1. Family Forms * Family Life Cycle Building Strong Families

2. Family Forms
Family Form or structure does not indicate how healthy the family is--It is solely the physical makeup of the family
Many different families forms are beginning to emerge in the United States

3. Family Forms Nuclear family
Both adults are the biological or adoptive parents of children.
There are three types of nuclear families depending on employment status of the woman and man.
Man works — women stays at home
Woman works outside the home and the man cares for the children
Both the husband and the wife work outside the home or are income providers.

4. Family Forms Single-parent families Blended/Step families
This is currently the fastest growing family form in America.
More than half of all children will spend some of their lives in a single-parent family.
88 % of these families are headed by women.
Blended/Step families
Generally created by divorce and remarriage rather than by the death of the mother or father
9,000 new step families are being created each week in this country

5. Family Forms Joint/shared-custody families Cross-generational family
Children are legally raised by both parents who are not living together
Cross-generational family
Two or more adults from different generations of a family, share a household
Aging parents living with adult child’s family
Children being raised by their grandparents
Number of these families has increased by 40 percent in the past ten years

6. Family Forms Cohabitation families Voluntary child-free families
Unmarried adults who are committed to a long-term relationship
May or may not include children
Voluntary child-free families
Couples who choose not to have children
Involuntary child-free families
Couples who are unable to have children

7. Family Forms * Family Life Cycle Building Strong Families

8. Family Life Cycle Stage 6: Launching Center Stage 7: Empty Nest
Stage 5: Family with Teenagers
When the oldest child is between the ages of 13 and 20.
Stage 6: Launching Center
From the time the oldest child leaves the family for independent adult life until the time the last child leaves.
Stage 3: Family with Preschoolers
When the oldest child is between the ages of 2 ½ and 6.
Stage 4: Family with School-Age Children
When the oldest child is between the ages of 6 and 13.
Stage 2: Childbearing Family
From the birth of the first child until that child is 2 ½ years old.
Stage 7: Empty Nest
From the time the children are gone until the marital couple retires from employment
Stage 8: Aging Family
From retirement until the death of the surviving marriage partner.
Stage 1: Beginning Family
The married couple establish their home but do not yet have children.
Childbearing Family – 2 ½ years old
Family with Preschoolers ½ - 6 yrs
Leaving Home
Empty Nest
Launching Center
Marriage
Parenting
Retirement
Independence
Family with School Children yrs old
Family with adolescents yrs old

9. Family Forms * Family Life Cycle Building Strong Families

10. Family Influence What does a family influence?
How well children do in school
How well they perform on the job as adults
How well they contribute to society in general
Many problems of individuals and society are related to a dysfunctional family
Youth suicide, teen pregnancy, runaways, substance abuse, childhood and adolescent depression, child abuse and neglect, family violence, etc.

11. 7 Keys to a Strong Family 1. Commitment & Responsibility
Strong families value the family unit and each family member
Everyone supports and encourages one another
Each family members has clear roles but are willing to change roles if necessary
Family has established rules
Dating
Eating Together
Curfew
Driving
Laundry/Chores

12. Good Communication 7 Keys to a Strong Family
Share what you think and feel and then listen to each other
Develop good communication by . . .
Asking about each other’s day
Being willing to share experiences
Listening and not jumping to conclusions

13. Problem Solving/Decision Making
7 Keys to a Strong Family
Problem Solving/Decision Making
Strong families will have arguments and problems—its how they are solved that determines the happiness in the family
Try to solve problems in a timely manner
The longer you are in an argument, the harder it is to get out
Strong families solve problems and make decisions as a team not as individuals

14. Consistent Values 7 Keys to a Strong Family
Strong families have a strong moral base with consistent values and spiritual beliefs
Shared goals and ideas about what is important

15. 5. Support Network 7 Keys to a Strong Family
Strong families have ties to their relatives
Support one another in both in triumph and crisis
They are also active in their community
Assist friends and neighbors—which in turn will give assistance when needed

16. 7 Keys to a Strong Family 6. Appreciation
Strong families care about each other and therefore do good things for one another.
Feeling worthwhile and valuable is one of the most basic of human needs
Everyone wants to know that what they are doing is appreciated
Don’t just thank for the big things—Remember the little things also

17. 7 Keys to Strong Families
7. Time Together
Members spend plenty of time with each other
When they are together, they really pay attention to each other.
Peak experiences
Vacations
Camping
Continuous experiences
Eating together
Working together

18. Time Together Traditions Holiday Traditions Weekly Traditions
Family outings or projects
Food Traditions